My Grandmother’s Trick for Cashmere Sweaters Turned Out to Be Myth, But I Still Do It — Here’s Why

My first cashmere sweater was a gift from my grandmother when I turned 21. It was soft pink, light as air, and took my breath away when I unwrapped it — a sign, I felt, that I was officially grown up. I wore it to my birthday dinner with family at the House of Prime Rib in San Francisco, and for years it was one of my most treasured pieces.

Before I wore it, though, my grandmother had instructions. Fold it carefully, slip it into a Ziploc bag, and put it in the freezer overnight. “It’ll keep it from getting all balled up,” she said. As any cashmere owner knows, pilling is to be avoided at all costs, so into the freezer went my sweater, nestled beside frozen corn.

Years later, I learned that freezing doesn’t actually prevent pilling, according to experts. However, I still freeze my cashmere because it actually helps with three other things. Here’s why you’ll want to freeze your cashmere sweaters, too.

If you’ve ever pulled out a beloved sweater only to discover tiny holes, that means you have a moth problem, and that can be devastating to your clothes. Freezing cashmere can help kill existing moths or larvae before seasonal storage. “Freezing cashmere sweaters will help kill moths, but it won’t prevent a future moth infestation,” explains personal stylist Dianne Boyer. She recommends freezing sweaters before storing them for the season so you don’t tuck moth larvae away with your knits.

Just make sure your sweaters are clean before freezing and put them in an airtight bag. Stashing sweaters with cedar or lavender sachets can also prevent moths. (Just be sure the sachets don’t directly touch your sweaters.) 

Freezing cashmere isn’t a replacement for washing (hand-wash only, gently!), but it can work as a short-term refresh. If you’re in a pinch and want to wear a sweater that’s not quite clean, a night in the freezer can help minimize odors.

That said, it’s not a permanent fix. Knitwear consultant Cristina Hernandez cautions, “Freezing a cashmere sweater can work in a pinch for reducing body odors, but I have found it merely makes the bacteria in the fabric dormant, and the odor will return.” Translation: Use this trick sparingly.

Freezing can also slightly reduce shedding (emphasis on slightly). “The freezing will help tighten the fabric,” says Boyer, which can keep fibers in place for a short time.

But don’t expect miracles. “Freezing can hold the fibers in place and therefore reduce shedding,” Hernandez explains, “but it’s temporary. As the fibers return to normal temperature, this effect will be gone.” For longer-term results, a cashmere comb is still your best bet for both shedding and pilling.